[bigdog7373]

I posted this question before but i think the title scared everyone away because it's a foreign car. I have a problem with a volvo s70 with a 2.4 I5 engine. Stopped at a light and it just died and then when i tried to start it back up a dark blue puff off smoke came out from under the hood and it doesn't want to start now. Called a tow truck and got it back home and i look at the tow truck bed and there is a puddle of oil and coolant mixture under where the car was. The car has been having fuel problems lately and i was about to change the fuel filter because i honestly think it has never been changed in the 120,000 miles the car has. Also, the temperature gauge stopped working recently so i don't know what the temp was when the car died. My diagnosis is that it was running lean and caused high cylinder temperatures and blew the head gasket or cracked the head. Any other opinions? By the way, this is not my car, it is a family member's car. I would never had let it get to this point.

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

I posted this question before but i think the title scared everyone away because it's a foreign car. I have a problem with a volvo s70 with a 2.4 I5 engine. Stopped at a light and it just died and then when i tried to start it back up a dark blue puff off smoke came out from under the hood and it doesn't want to start now. Called a tow truck and got it back home and i look at the tow truck bed and there is a puddle of oil and coolant mixture under where the car was. The car has been having fuel problems lately and i was about to change the fuel filter because i honestly think it has never been changed in the 120,000 miles the car has. Also, the temperature gauge stopped working recently so i don't know what the temp was when the car died. My diagnosis is that it was running lean and caused high cylinder temperatures and blew the head gasket or cracked the head. Any other opinions? By the way, this is not my car, it is a family member's car. I would never had let it get to this point.

Don't much about Volvo's but I do know that puddles of oil and coolant aren't a very good sign.

I know that the Renton, Washington (home of the Boeing 737) police department was talked into using Volvo patrol cars a few years ago. It was a disaster. They sure ain't no Police Interceptor, Crown Vic.

Bogie

[Big Jimbo]

A bad fuel filter wouldn't do it. It is probably from a poorly maintained cooling system. If you fix it, I would recommend installing a new water pump and get the radiator cleaned and flow tested. Replace it if necessary. Check your thermostat on the stove in a pan of water with a candy thermometer to make sure it is accurate. It would be a good idea to install a new temp gauge to keep an eye on things. Make sure your new head is flat and the block surface are clean. Use NEW head bolts and torque with an accurate wrench to factory specs and you should be good for a long time.

[poncho62]

Going by what you said happened, it sounds more to me that you blew the timing chain or timing belt.......But, the puddle under the car shows you blew some seal or another....Check your oil for coolant and check your rad for signs of oil.....Thats the 1st thing I would do.

[bigdog7373]

Well the car starts but runs rough for about a second then dies, and there is oil and coolant on the air box and intake hoses, etc... I might do a compression test just to be sure but if it turns out to be the head gasket then we're going to buy a diesel truck because it's just more practical and i need to tow a trailer anyway.

[LATECH]

you should be able to air charge the cylinders one at a time and look for air bubbles at the surge tank filler neck.Bubbles in the system will indicate a head gasket that is blown or leaking.The blue puff you saw might have been power steering fluid if the engine misfired and turned over backwards. The power steering fluid in the volvos is quite flammable.

[bigdog7373]

It was on the other side of the engine, not near any accessories. It's turbo though so i think it was just it's time to go. I'm thinking about fixing it slowly because i'm probably getting a dodge cummins or chevy duramax truck, so i won't need the car but it will be good for my lil bro to drive in a few years.

[cobalt327]

What have you got against you little brother? LOL

If you find that the oil/coolant mixture on the ground came to be by an innocuous method, you're lucky. Because usually, this means it's terminal.

Unless the car is perfect otherwise, that engine will not be worth fixing, in all likelihood. If the car is worth salvaging, I would put another bullet in it instead of trying to rebuild that particular engine- if it it well and truly blown. Otherwise, I'd wholesale it and never look back.

[Duntov]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

What have you got against you little brother? LOL

If you find that the oil/coolant mixture on the ground came to be by an innocuous method, you're lucky. Because usually, this means it's terminal.

Unless the car is perfect otherwise, that engine will not be worth fixing, in all likelihood. If the car is worth salvaging, I would put another bullet in it instead of trying to rebuild that particular engine- if it it well and truly blown. Otherwise, I'd wholesale it and never look back.

I agree w Cobalt.

[bigdog7373]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

What have you got against you little brother? LOL

I meant to say that i would fix it for him to drive. lol.
The car isn't in great condition either but i found a 1999 ram 2500 quad cab wit a cummins diesel, 4x4, and 4 inch lift for $3000 that im going to look at, so i think i'll just junk the volvo or sell it for parts.